caitlinsmom
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Posts posted by caitlinsmom
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Just checked the forecast. Tomorrows temps have changed and they are guessing high 20's, gradually warming up for the rest of the week. Even if it is just a prediction (and one that will change at least 12 more times by breakfast) it still makes me feel a smidgen better. :)
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We came up with a solution. Dh called a friend who is a local contractor and brick mason. We are borrowing some insulated tarps (who knew) to wrap off each area and a 150000 btu heaters that will blow into the tarped off area. The friend claimed that the combination will easily get the inside temp to a steady 65 degrees. We bought cold weather paint that needs a temp of 34 degrees maintained for 24 hours to cure so we should be good. We only have 2 ends of the house to paint so we should be able to get everything done tomorrow and dry by Sunday evening. Apparently the friend has used this method many times when meeting building deadlines without compromising the paint/house down the road.
Here's hoping. We get started at sun up tomorrow.
Thanks for all the input!
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I'd get a painting contractor to write something like "you're nuts" that you can show to the attorneys on both sides.
If they don't budge, rent a sprayer and water down some cheap Home Depot Behr paint and slap on a single coat, knowing you'll just have to scrape it off later.
Lol. That's basically what Sherwin Williams and Columbia just said. For some reason I don't think it will work. :)
They do make a lo-temp paint but it has to remain at 34 degrees for 24 hours. That just isn't going to happen as our nighttime temps are usually below 0. Even tenting off and adding heaters isn't going to keep the temp up for that long.
Next option- we purchase the siding now and take care of it. Ah! I really don't want to rush that decision.
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I wouldn't paint the house. I'd agree to paint it when the weather improves. It's a waste of money and paint to do it now. Seriously.
We don't have an option. If we want to close we have to do it. We MUST move before the end of the month. I don't care if it stays on long term s we have plans to replace siding in the spring. Will it be wasteful, yes but it something we have to do. :(
We did try to have an escrow account set up for repairs once it warms up but they wouldn't agree to that.
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We just got the appraisal back on a house we are buying. It came in at 10k over what we needed which was a huge relief. However one stipulation to close is that exterior needs to be repainted (its a fixer upper). I live in Idaho....its the middle of winter.....and today is a balmy 31 degrees. The rest of the week is supposed to be colder. We will need to get the house painted in the next week or so.
Anyone know the best way to go about this so the paint adheres and it doesn't take too long to dry? Google U isn't helping me out too much.
PS. Because I know it will come up..... Yes it is the sellers responsibility to paint it. They are, we just happen to be friends so we are helping take care of things.
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I've decided that it's time to get on the flats bandwagon. I know, I know, I'm nearly a decade late. It's how I roll I suppose. :)
I have worn some form of heel for all of my teens and adult life. I like them and will still continue to wear them however I was looking at my style board on Pinterest and I clearly like the look of flats too. I'm not even sure I've ever tried them on before! My favorite shoes are a pair of Ariat cowboy boots and a pair of Born clogs. I wear them all the time but I do want something flatter to hide under my pants a bit.
So tell me which brands are most comfortable, cute, well made, etc. I'm on overstock right now and I see lots of glittery stuff. Eh, I am so not wearing glitter! :)
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I have nothing to contribute to the conversation other than I have thought this myself a time or two. I think we are quite entitled as a whole to be honest (yes a huge generalization obviously) as opposed to wimpy.
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MM has an app for iDevices and Android if that would help you.
I saw that! I would love it if I had an iPhone again. At this point I have an old phone that barely get a signal. :) Oh well.
http://www.theconfidentmom.com/services/classes-products/household-planner-sales-page/
I was looking at this one today. It isn't an app though.
I'm downloading the free version to check it out. Thanks for the link.
I have heard good things about the fly lady app.
Ahhh fly lady. I can never decide if I should listen to her or strangle her (as much as one can through a computer that is). :) Some days I think she has it all right and others....well lets just say I had many a disagreements with "her" through my computer. I'd be interested to see if her app is a bit more streamlined than her email system though.
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I was given the chore planner two years ago and followed it loosely. I liked that everything was laid out and included a lot of the things I forget until they are just nasty. I dislike that it was given to me in a binder. I can't stand having binders open on my counter!
Have you come across something similar that you like better? Just curious before I buy the new MM. :)
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I highly recommend http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/
I have very dry, itchy, rashy skin. This company's soaps are wonderful and they provide detailed descriptions of all their soaps and other products. I have been using them for some time now and can't say enough good about them.
Susie in SWVA
I love their selection! Their "Help Me Choose" section is great! I've already weeded out a handful of choices based on oils alone. Thanks for sharing.
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Sounds like we have the same skin! I am renowned for using half a bottle of something, usually billed as natural or great for sensitive skin, and then getting a rash. My mum is the happy recipient of lots of my experiments. I struggle most with sunscreen and hair conditioner, and I can't used anything perfumed. Because I live in Australia, most of my product recommendations will be useless for you. I wash myself with Sunlight laundry soap. I think Velvet or Ivory soap is the same. It has the bonus of having no palm oil content. Sometimes I make my own. I wash clothes in sunlight soap and washing soda ( grate a cake of soap, dissolve in boiling water, add a cup of washing soda. Make up to 5 litres. Use 1/4 cup per wash (front loader). Skip the borax used in most recipes). I have washed my hair with soap and used a vinegar rinse, but I prefer conditioner. I use coconut oil and olive oil as moisturisers. A 50/50 mix of both works well for me. You can use this as a cleanser as well: slather on, massage gently, remove with a warm cloth. Try different oils till you find one you like. Also works as an overnight hair treatment or as an anti-frizz.
Good luck!
D
Sunscreen is the worst!! I am a pale skinned red head that burns within 5 minutes outside. Each year I spend April, May and half of June outside as much as possible. After that I sit in the house until late Sept. because I can't find a sunscreen that protects my skin. I make a laundry soap very similar to what you posted and it works great. I will give the oils a try in the shower. I use olive oil on my face after a shower but it seems to be a bit too much for my skin. I ordered some Apricot Kernel oil that used to work well. Here's hoping it still does. :)
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Yes. Not usually pictures.
However one must be careful that you actually send it to the intended person and not get caught up in a whole bunch of incoming texts that you accidentally send a naughty text to your boss instead of your husband.
Ask me how I know :-)
My sister once sent a fairly explicit text to her dh who usually works alone. She didn't know however that he had a huge meeting that day with investors. Having forgot to turn off his read aloud function, his phone read the text out loud to the entire room. Thankfully everyone found the humor. My sister was horrified though and took a text break after that. :)
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Why not - my grandmother, priest, and everyone else probably caught it.
I was going through my phone deleting "naughty" pics (husband had been out of town, so I snapped a few for him; he came home and I didn't want my children seeing the pics).
Busy talking to my husband on the couch next to me, meant to hit "delete", accidentally hit "share" and then "facebook" (natural inclination/wasn't paying attention, as I share tons of pics on facebook). I had no clue until my phone lit up with facebook alerts - comments on my pic. A pic of a giant, naked boob.
My husband was laughing so hysterically that it took him several more minutes to delete the darn thing from my facebook.
Hilarious! I bet those comments were hilarious too!
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Both my best friend and sister are fans of adult content texting, both in picture and words. Honestly it really had never occured to me to do so as it seems young, 20-something-ish. So I'm curious, am I the only one that isn't fun like that? :)
PS After thinking of this for the past few days, I did send one to my dh just to see his reaction. His response? "Thank you for that." lol
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My mother has very sensitive skin. She does without soap as much as humanly possible. She does use soap and shampoo but in a minimal way (just enough to stay clean). She also has to be careful about laundry soap. She also doesn't use lotion or make up, because those can also inflame her skin. She has had products that she used for years suddenly cause a reaction. So I can sympathize with your plight.
Whole foods has soap without a lot of dyes and perfumes. You can also make your own so you know what ingredients cause you problems.
The nearest Whole Foods (or similar) is 3 hours away in another state. :) I've got all the recipes for my own creations but I lack the desire to really do it. Right now I need a grab and go option.
Your mom sounds just like me. We used the same natural soap for years because I didn't have a reaction to it. Then one load and everything changed. I can not use a product for more than one bottle, usually only 1/2, before switching to another brand. I get very tired of it all.
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As part of my quest to get my life back on track, I have am getting rid of things that do not work for me. My entire life I have been plagued with overly sensitive skin and hair. I can not use store bought soaps without repercussions. I break out in rashes that no doctor has ever seen (true story, I'm in the medical books lol), my skin dries out and flakes in huge chunks, my hair falls out, my scalp itches, etc. I also have such a low tolerance for chemical smells that if something is to harsh the back of my throat breaks out in a rash of sorts. It's not pretty. Over the last few months I have had to buy whatever from the grocery store and my body is showing the effects of this! The friend I used to purchase items from is no longer in business so I am now on the lookout for new stuff.
Here is what I want:
excellent quality lotions, body soaps, shampoo, and conditioner made by small business using only natural products and oils. Ideally I would like a company that can do custom orders so I can pick and choose what I need/want in the product. I can't spend a fortune on product so nothing to overly fancy.
I would love to hear your recommendations. :)
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I don't think this one has been shared yet. I'm not sure the depth of the lessons yet but the variety is pretty great.
https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons.aspx
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Oh, that reminds me, a while back I found some nice lesson plans for folk art from some museums
http://www.folkartmuseum.org/resources
http://www.folkartrevealed.org/lessons (contains > 40)
These two are spectacular! I have a list of ideas that came to me while I was reading.
The more resources that are posted the more I think my idea is totally doable. That makes me really happy. :)
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Check out Danny Gregory's work: http://www.dannygregory.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Matters-Danny-Gregory/dp/1401307957
I love this! I'm headed to the library and have added a couple of his books to my list. Thanks for sharing.
Last night I realized I like to draw everyday things. I did an apple, a Christmas tree, a dirty plate. After I went to bed I decided that part of my journal really needs to focus on these simple things because its these things I am so grateful for. I have so much heavy stuff to work through that I want to find those things I am grateful for so I don't get bogged down, even in my journal.
Thanks again for sharing.
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Embroidery is sewing without the big mess to drag out. You could start embroidering quilt squares and sew them into a quilt later.
This is a great idea. My daughter received some embroidery stuff for Christmas and wants a partner to help out. I love embroidered quilts and I have a ton of scrap fabric already. Do you recommend any pattern companies? I don't think I've ever seen anything at JoAnns that inspires me. lol :)
OP, you sound a bit better already -- as you describe your new hobby of choice.
I'm glad you found something and are starting already. Starting something new was sooo helpful for me when I struggled through a period of depression. Best wishes to you!
Thanks. I am feeling a bit better. I stayed up late last night just filling pages with ideas. I had no idea all this was stored in me. I dreamed about art last night so I woke up this morning with a bunch of fresh ideas.
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That's sweet of your DH. Glad you've found something new and exciting. You've piqued my interest, too. I'll have to check out art journaling. I am no artist, but I do like to doodle. And I think I might like the idea of journaling in fits and spurts rather than feeling pressured to fill the pages with words. So, thank you!
Youtube is filled with videos and ideas. There are a lot of women who seem to pick a quote that speaks to them and create a whole project out of it. The one that really caught my eye was a woman who did a very simple watercolor/pastel/sharpie drawing combo. Afterward she wrote about 5 sentances. In her narration she tells how the picture really depicted the feelings she was having and the words shared how she was going to overcome those feelings. That exact idea is what I need right now. I need to show the feelings then come to a resolution.....without anyones input.....without guilt....all by myself.
Tonight I drew an eye with a tear (based on a
). All around it I added my thoughts on crying, why I don't cry, how it makes me feel, etc. After I was done I closed the book, took a deep breath and walked away. I nearly cried from the relief!! lol.Anyway, I can see how each person would do it differently based on their current state of mind and experiences. Give it a try. It might be your new hobby ;)
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It sounds like you used to have hobbies. Are there any of them that you really miss?
Not really. My tastes and interests have changed a lot in the last couple years. I have a few things I like to do but not enough to really inspire me to wake up so to speak.
However, I think I've found "the" hobby for me. Last night after spending much time on YouTube watching art videos, yoga, dance, etc, I came across a video for art journaling. I watched a couple more and for the first time in a long time I felt excited about something. It combines my crazy need to create, my love of words, and its compact enough to toss in a bag and hit Starbucks (after the art part is done anyway). I am doodler by nature and fill notebooks all the time with this and that. Why not add some color to it?
I really liked the suggestion to write but I am not one to sit and fill pages. Quick bursts of though or feeling are how I work. I think the art part will be healing/calming while the writing will help me come to terms with life but in small doses.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am going to try a lot of ideas here and there and see what else I might enjoy. I appreciate all the help. :)
ETA: For Christmas my dh gave me a charcoal drawing kit, watercolor pencils, oil pastels and a sketch book. :) He said he knew I needed something creative and hoped at least one would catch my eye. I'm excited to use all of them!
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What about doing whatever pleases you? What if you spend time just looking and listening for what gets you going and interested again, and if the feeling and observing is the most important thing you can do right now?
Naming a hobby might be just the thing, or it could feel like another obligation/responsibility. But if you set out to explore whatever you feel like doing and listen to that...garden planning, sudoku, sketching, a yoga dvd, get on Pandora and turn up whatever era of music brings back good memories for you, do dot-to-dots, color with crayons, sculpt with clay.... After 2-3 mos doing what pleases and excites you, maybe you will get a sense what hobby/interest/part time work that you love. I did notice the self-portrait in your avatar! This is one of the hardest things for me about homeschooling and taking care of special dietary needs in my family, really being able to hear my own interests and desires. Your voice and your desire are compelling and as you make more space for yourself, you will discover amazing things. It is extremely painful, especially for introverted creative personalities, to be at the beck and call of others' needs all the time. I don't know if this is the case with you, but listening to your own voice will give you clarity. And it's a blessing, more than a curse, that that voice within you insists on being heard.
Amy
Thank you for everything you said but especially the bold part. This is the best way to describe some of what I have been feeling. I feel so guilty when I start feeling resentment being at the beck and call for everyone. Even though I am not, it feels that way and you're right, it is painful. Thank you for putting into words what's been lolling about in my head with a million other things. :)
I'm a fan of the Society for Creative Anachronism. It provides a social setting, chances to learn things (especially about history), you can be crafty if you want to, you can shoot things (with arrows) or get into combat (with heavy armor and wooden swords or lighter rapier fighting) for physical activity, events tend to be day-long indoors when weather calls for it, or weekend camping when in season; you can join and go to things like sewing circles, fighter practices, archery practices, etc. without going to an event. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, it being a nonprofit educational organization run by volunteers. The whole family can become involved, or you can do things as a getaway for just you.
I have never heard of this before. It might be worth a shot! I will google to see what I can find.
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Unless there was more to it, "Find a hobby" seems rather dismissive to someone hanging on by a thread. . However, if this advice is helpful to the OP, I'm glad. .
There was much more to it than that, however this is all I am willing to share on a public message board. I do find the suggestion helpful because until he said it, I hadn't realized that I had let all my hobbies go and no longer did anything for myself. The suggestions in this thread have been helpful in giving me some new things to look at.
Educate me a bit on girls and dating!
in The Chat Board
Posted
We decided on age 16 if they kids want to. Mainly for practical purposes like driving, income from working, etc.
I think dating before marriage is important. I dated many guys (mostly friends) before meeting dh. I came into our marriage without reservations because I'd had the experience of knowing what I wanted in a spouse. Dh on the other hand dated little to none until we met. He had a much harder time transitioning to marriage because of it.
I never dated with the eye on a potential spouse. I always dated to have fun with someone whose company I enjoyed. Dating was a way of knowing what I wanted later. I don't think that everyone is a potential spouse and I never would have considered all my relationships in that way. I never planned to marry so I never had a list of things I wanted or didn't but even if I had I can see now they wouldn't have been entirely useful. In my teen know it all world, everything was black and white. Little is black and white in a relationship and that isn't something you learn until you've had experience.
For the most part I think dating in the teen years is best done in a group because it's just more fun, however I am not opposed to couple dates. We've already talked about sex at my house and will continue to do so as they get older. If that is a choice they make, they will go into it with all the knowledge they can (re diseases, contraception, etc). Do I want them to be intimate as a teen? No, but that isn't a choice I can make for them. I can only prepare them in all ways to make a choice they can live with later on.